Avoid statins during BCG for bladder cancer?
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Avoid statins during BCG for bladder cancer? Discontinuation of statins during immunotherapy with BCG for bladder cancer may lead to an improved clinical outcome, suggest researchers from Belgium. In their retrospective study, they analysed outcomes from 84 patients who had received BCG to treat nonmuscle-invasive bladder cancer; of these, 19 had received concomitant statin therapy. Patients were followed for a median of 46 months. There was no difference between the two groups in bladder cancer recurrence at 1 year or in subsequent years. However, the cancer became more aggressive in 53% of patients receiving concomitant statins, compared with 18% of patients receiving BCG alone (odds ratio [OR] 4.9; 95% CI 1.64, 14.69). Furthermore, more statin plus BCG recipients than BCG alone recipients were required to undergo radical cystectomy (42% vs 14% [OR 4.5; 1.43, 14.30]). The researchers note that statins have immunomodulatory properties including a strong attenuation of Th1-type immune response; however, high Th1-biased urinary cytokine levels after BCG therapy appears to correlate with a better clinical response. Hoffmann P, et al. Use of statins and outcome of BCG treatment for bladder cancer. New England Journal of Medicine 355: 2705-2707, No. 25, 21 Dec 801034447 2006
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Reactions 13 Jan 2007 No. 1134
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